An In-depth Comparison Between Crowdspring vs 99Designs You Dont Wanna Miss!

In today’s digital world, the visual identity of your business is more important than ever. Selecting the right platform to create this identity can be a daunting task, especially when there are several reputable options available. Two such platforms are Crowdspring and 99Designs, each with its own strengths and unique offerings. This article aims to provide an in-depth comparison between these two platforms, Crowdspring and 99Designs, breaking down their key differences, similarities, advantages, and drawbacks. Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking for logo design or a business seeking comprehensive branding solutions , this comparison should help you make the most suitable choice.

What is Crowdspring and what is 99Designs?

Crowdspring is a prominent online marketplace for creative services, where businesses and entrepreneurs can find professional, customized designs and written content from creatives worldwide. Launched in 2008, it offers a broad range of services, from graphic design and logo creation to website design and product packaging. Its unique platform allows you to post a project and receive dozens, if not hundreds, of custom submissions from various talented designers around the globe.

On the other hand, 99Designs is a global creative platform that connects clients and designers. Since its inception in 2008, it has grown into a strong community of professional designers who provide a variety of creative services. 99Designs provides a similar setup to Crowdspring, where businesses can post a design contest and receive various design concepts from creatives worldwide. The platform also provides an option for clients to work directly with individual designers, making it a versatile solution for many businesses’ design needs.

Key differences between Crowdspring and 99Designs

1. Pricing structure: Crowdspring offers both fixed price packages and customizable projects, while 99Designs primarily operates on a contest-based pricing structure.
2. Content creation: Unlike 99Designs, Crowdspring offers content writing services, which can be particularly useful for businesses in need of both design and written content.
3. Refund policy: While both platforms offer money-back guarantees, the conditions for a refund differ. Crowdspring offers a full refund, while 99Designs provides a full refund only for certain conditions.
4. Direct collaboration: 99Designs offers a ‘Pro’ feature that allows direct collaboration with a specific designer. This feature is not available on Crowdspring.
5. Designer selection: Crowdspring allows all registered designers to participate in any project. In contrast, 99Designs has a tiered designer level system, restricting certain contests to designers with higher ranks.
6. Turnaround time: On average, Crowdspring projects tend to have a longer turnaround time compared to 99Designs.

Key similarities between Crowdspring and 99Designs

1. Global reach: Both Crowdspring and 99Designs host a global community of talented creatives, providing a wide range of design styles and ideas.
2. Design contest model: Both platforms utilize a design contest model, where businesses post a brief and receive multiple submissions from different designers.
3. Variety of services: Both Crowdspring and 99Designs offer a broad range of design services, from logos and business cards to web designs and product packaging.
4. Feedback mechanism: Both platforms provide a mechanism for clients to give feedback and request revisions on submitted designs.
5. Ownership rights: On both platforms, the client obtains full ownership rights of the final design upon payment.
6. Customer support: Both Crowdspring and 99Designs provide robust customer support for both clients and designers.

Pros of Crowdspring over 99Designs

1. Content writing services: Unlike 99Designs, Crowdspring offers additional services like content writing, which can be a significant advantage for businesses looking for a comprehensive creative solution.
2. Pricing flexibility: Crowdspring provides more flexibility in terms of pricing, with options for both fixed packages and customized projects based on specific requirements.
3. All-inclusive participation: Crowdspring allows all registered designers to participate in any project, unlike the tiered system on 99Designs, which can restrict participation.
4. Comprehensive refund policy: Crowdspring offers a more comprehensive money-back guarantee compared to 99Designs, offering more financial security to businesses.
5. Privacy protection: Crowdspring includes the option to make your project private, protecting your business’s confidentiality.
6. Collaborative environment: Crowdspring encourages open interaction between clients and designers throughout the project, fostering a collaborative environment.

Cons of Crowdspring compared to 99Designs

1. Turnaround time: Projects on Crowdspring tend to have a longer turnaround time compared to 99Designs, which may not suit businesses with tight deadlines.
2. Limited direct collaboration: Unlike 99Designs, Crowdspring doesn’t offer an option to work directly with a specific designer from the outset.
3. Designer quality: The open participation policy at Crowdspring might sometimes lead to varying levels of design quality, whereas 99Designs’ tiered system often ensures high-quality submissions.
4. Platform interface: Some users find Crowdspring’s platform to be less intuitive and user-friendly compared to 99Designs.
5. Fewer design submissions: Due to its business model, Crowdspring sometimes receives fewer design submissions per project compared to 99Designs.
6. Limited designer focus: Unlike 99Designs, which offers categorizations like Top Level and Mid Level designers, Crowdspring does not have such categorizations, potentially making it more challenging to find designers with specialized skill sets.

Pros of 99Designs over Crowdspring

1. Direct collaboration: 99Designs offers a unique ‘Pro’ feature that allows businesses to directly collaborate with a chosen designer, offering a more personalized experience.
2. Tiered designer system: 99Designs operates on a tiered system for designers, which can often ensure high-quality submissions by allowing only experienced designers to participate in certain projects.
3. Quick turnaround time: The turnaround time for projects on 99Designs tends to be faster than on Crowdspring, which is beneficial for businesses with tight deadlines.
4. Large number of submissions: Businesses often receive more design submissions per project on 99Designs compared to Crowdspring due to its larger designer community.
5. User-friendly platform: Many users find the 99Designs platform to be more intuitive and user-friendly compared to Crowdspring.
6. Proven track record: 99Designs has a proven track record and a large, satisfied customer base, demonstrating its reliability and quality service.

Cons of 99Designs compared to Crowdspring

1. No content writing services: Unlike Crowdspring, 99Designs does not offer content writing services, which may require businesses to seek these services elsewhere.
2. Pricing structure: 99Designs primarily operates on a contest-based pricing structure, which may not offer as much flexibility as Crowdspring’s fixed price packages and customizable projects.
3. Refund policy: 99Designs offers a full refund only under certain conditions, compared to Crowdspring’s more comprehensive money-back guarantee.
4. Limited designer participation: The tiered designer system in 99Designs restricts certain contests to designers with higher ranks, limiting the number of creatives that can participate.
5. Competition: The larger number of submissions on 99Designs can make the selection process more time-consuming for businesses.
6. Privacy concerns: While 99Designs offers private contests, it comes with an additional fee, unlike Crowdspring which includes the privacy option in its regular pricing.

Situations when Crowdspring is better than 99Designs

1. Seeking content writing services: If your project requires both design and written content, Crowdspring is a better choice as it offers professional content writing services.
2. Budget constraints: Crowdspring’s flexible pricing structure could be more beneficial for businesses on a tight budget or those requiring customized project quotes.
3. Maintaining privacy: Crowdspring includes a privacy protection feature at no additional cost, making it a better choice if confidentiality is a priority.
4. Diverse design styles: Crowdspring’s policy of allowing all registered designers to participate in any project can lead to a wide range of design styles and ideas.
5. Seeking a comprehensive refund policy: With its money-back guarantee, Crowdspring might be a safer bet for businesses taking their first steps into outsourcing creative work.
6. Open collaboration: If you prefer open interaction with all designers throughout the project, Crowdspring is likely a better fit.

Situations when 99Designs is better than Crowdspring

1. Direct collaboration with a designer: If your business prefers to work directly with a specific designer from the outset, 99Designs would be the better option due to its ‘Pro’ feature.
2. Quick turnaround times: If you are on a tight schedule, 99Designs tends to have faster turnaround times compared to Crowdspring.
3. Seeking higher-quality submissions: With its tiered designer system, 99Designs can often ensure high-quality submissions by allowing only experienced designers to participate in certain contests.
4. More design submissions: If you want a large number of design concepts to choose from, you’re likely to receive more submissions per project on 99Designs.
5. User-friendly interface: If ease of use is a priority, the 99Designs platform is often considered more intuitive and user-friendly compared to Crowdspring.
6. Large projects or rebranding: For larger projects or complete business rebranding, 99Designs’ proven track record and larger designer community can offer more confidence and options.

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Key differences between Crowdspring and 99Designs

1. Range of services: Unlike 99Designs, Crowdspring offers content writing services in addition to design services, offering a broader range of creative solutions for businesses.
2. Pricing structure: Crowdspring offers both fixed price packages and customizable projects, while 99Designs primarily operates on a contest-based pricing structure.
3. Designer interaction: 99Designs offers a ‘Pro’ feature allowing businesses to work directly with a specific designer, a service not provided by Crowdspring.
4. Designer participation: While Crowdspring allows all registered designers to participate in any project, 99Designs operates a tiered designer system, restricting certain contests to designers with higher ranks.
5. Refund policy: Both platforms offer money-back guarantees, but Crowdspring offers a more comprehensive refund policy compared to the more conditional refund policy of 99Designs.
6. Turnaround time: Generally, Crowdspring projects tend to have a longer turnaround time compared to 99Designs.
7. Privacy options: While both platforms offer project privacy options, Crowdspring includes this feature at no extra cost, whereas 99Designs charges an additional fee for it.

Crowdspring vs 99Designs Summary

Both Crowdspring and 99Designs provide robust platforms that cater to a wide range of creative needs for businesses and entrepreneurs. The choice between the two largely depends on your specific requirements, budget, and preferences. While Crowdspring may appeal more to those looking for a wide range of services, including content writing, 99Designs could be the preferred choice for those seeking to work directly with a designer. We hope this detailed comparison has provided valuable insights into Crowdspring vs 99Designs, aiding you in making an informed decision that best suits your business’s creative needs.

Remember, the success of your brand’s visual identity hinges not only on the platform you choose, but also on the clarity of your vision and effective collaboration with the designers.

	Crowdspring	99Designs
Range of Services	Design & Writing	Design Only
Pricing Structure	Fixed & Customizable	Contest-Based
Direct Designer Interaction	Not Available	Available (Pro Feature)
Designer Participation	All Designers	Tiered System
Refund Policy	Comprehensive	Conditional
Turnaround Time	Longer	Quicker
Privacy Options	Included	Extra Cost
Pros	– Content Writing Services – Pricing Flexibility – All-Inclusive Participation – Comprehensive Refund Policy – Privacy Protection – Collaborative Environment	– Direct Collaboration – Tiered Designer System – Quick Turnaround Time – Large Number of Submissions – User-Friendly Platform – Proven Track Record
Cons	– Longer Turnaround Time – Limited Direct Collaboration – Varying Designer Quality – Less Intuitive Interface – Fewer Design Submissions – Limited Designer Focus	– No Content Writing Services – Less Flexible Pricing – Limited Refund Policy – Limited Designer Participation – More Time-Consuming Selection – Extra Cost for Privacy
Best for Situations	– Seeking Content Writing Services – Budget Constraints – Maintaining Privacy – Seeking Diverse Design Styles – Comprehensive Refund Policy – Open Collaboration	– Direct Collaboration with Designer – Quick Turnaround Times – Seeking Higher-Quality Submissions – Large Number of Design Submissions – User-Friendly Interface – Large Projects or Rebranding